The Enlightenment

When did the Enlightenment begin to gain popularity?

When did the Enlightenment begin to gain popularity?

In western europe in the 18th century.

What was the goal of thinkers of the enlightenment?

Goal was to apply the principles of the Scientific Revolution to other spheres of life including politics, society, and economy.

What was the scientific revolution?

Scientists of 17th century Europe were driven to gain knowledge about things we were ignorant about. The sought to obtain this knowledge through observation and mathematical tools.

What was proclaimed by the philosophes (French for philosophers)

claimed that human beings, through reason, could plan and achieve a better future.

What was thought of by people before the scientific revolution?

People thought that the world was stagnant or deteriorating. They thought all important knowledge had already been revealed through religion.

what are natural rights?

such as life liberty and property, are universal to humans, can’t be taken away by government, and are essential for human dignity.

What was social contract?

refers to the idea that the government gets legitimacy from the consent of the governed. Basically this states that people were born with their own rights to property and freedom, and the purpose of the government was to protect those freedoms.

who was the most famous enlightenment philosopher?

John Locke

What did John Locke’s 2 Treatises state?

it showed a just republic based on consent and emphasized the right of the people to overthrow a tyrannical government and form a more just one.

What did he state in his Essay Concerning Human Understanding?

He implied a fundamental equality between farmer and noble.

Why did enlightenment ideas resonate with the bourgeoisie?

Members of this class were more likely to be educated and were eager consumers of books and newspapers, which sparked conversation in coffeehouses and tea parlors.

What caused them to become more politically aware?

colonial wars such as the Seven Years War led to huge government debt and high taxation

Before the enlightenment, what was believed about religion?

Religion played a prominent role of religion in culture and politics and society. It was common to have a state religion and to have leaders justify their power through some connection to religion.

Before the enlightenment, what was true of elites?

Elites were primarily landowning nobility and church officials.

What was true about ruling abilities?

Hereditary monarchy was the main form of government. Oftentimes monarchs claimed absolute power and a divine right to rule. Their power was not checked by constitutions or parliments.

What was true about laws and taxes?

There should be unequal systems of laws and taxes because people aren’t naturally equal

what was believed about intolerance and superstition?

people who look/think different should be treated with suspicion